Tray or support for record matter



Dec. 1924- 1,519,794

I J. H. RAND, JR, ET AL v TRAY OR SUPPORT FOR RECORD MATTER Filed Oct. 26, 1923 2 sheets sheet l //Vl '/V 70 F5. kz @m Dec. E924 LSWJM J. H. RAND, JR, ET AL TRAY CR SUPPORT FOR RECORD MATTER I Filed Oct. 26, 1925 2 Sheetg-Sheet 2 //V/ Y 0/96, 6,6 zrc0/Cza W Patented Dee-E6, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- JAMES E.

RAND, JR., TONAWANDA, AND LOUIS C. BROECKER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW

"YORK; SAID BBOECKER ASSIGNOB TO SAID JAmEs H. RAND, JR.

TRAY OR SUPPORT FOR RECORD MATTER.

Application filed October 26, 1923. Serial No. 670,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be, it known that we, JAMES H. RAND,

Jr., and LOUIS O. BRonoKnR, citizens of the United States, residing at Tonawanda and Buffalo, respectively, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trays or Supports for Record Matter, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trays, slides or devices adapted to supcards or matter are adapted. to rest, and side flanges or walls for retaining the cards-in,

overlapping arrangement and permitting sliding movements of the cardsin the tray, and preventing their transverse displace- 26 ment. The cards or card-holders are sometimes provided with flaps or lugs whereby an edge of one card or holder may be inserted beneath the flap or lug of an adjacent card or holder to maintain them in an overlapping, nested arrangement. with the free edges 'of the cards projecting one beyond the'other. Followers or members are also used which are adapted'to engage one or more of the cards or holders for holding the nested cards or holders in proper position longitudinally of the tray. and to revent their unintentional removal ther rom. These followers are preferably arranged adjacent an end wall of the tray.

40 and may or may not engage therewith. The end wall of the tray, as usually formed, comprises a flange or part extending perpendicular to and formed either integrally with or attached to the bottom part of the tray, and in some instances also to the side walls or flanges When the trays are in use, as for example,

in a card index cabinet, they are usually I rovided with a handle or' pull for with- .50 awing them, andit has been found that the front walls tend to buckle or flex between their ends and the pulls to become detached and the front portion generally of the tray becomes More I when formed as stated,

weakened and requires frequent repair or renewal.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide a tray or slide so constructed that pulling upon the handle or, hand pull will not tend to buckle or distort the front wall thereof; also to construct a card-indeX' or the like tray or support in which the end wall is reinforced by interfitting members having parts connected to the bottom parts and side walls of the tray to form a rigid andstrong construction which will not warp or buckle or become weakened in use; also to construct such member so that a drawer pull or handle part, an apron or cover part to conceal the follower, and the front wall proper of the tray may all be interfitted and assembled to make a practical and economical construction. Other objects of the invention are to provide improved retaining and supporting means fo. a designation, index or other data label or labels in proper position on the end wall of the tray so that they may be readi-' 1y read or viewed and easily inserted and removed from the tray. Other objects are to improve card-index or the like trays or supportsjin the other respects hereinafter set forth and claimed. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a card-index or the likeltray, accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front or endview thereof.

F ig, 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof on line 3- 3, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View on an enlarged scale of a corner of the tray.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 55, Fig. 9.

constructed in Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on line with the follower in operative and inoperative positions respectively, on

line 8-8, Fig. l, but on an enlarged scale. The card index tray or support shown in the drawings preferably includes a bottom or back portion A, side walls B hav- 7 ing spaced, overhanging flanges 0 adapted to engage tongues or portions D on the cards or holders E which project beneath the flanges, whereby the cards or holders are maintained in sliding'engagement on the tray. The walls B and flanges G are preferably formed integrally with the betom A The construction of the tray as this far described is well known in the art, and forms'no part of the present invention and may be ofany other suitable form.

10 represents an end member comprising a bottom attaching portion 11 in the form of a rearwardly extending plate, and perpendicular end wall or flange 12, preferably formed integrally with the attaching portion 11. The member 10 is pref erably beaded or depressed transversely as at 13, which bead 13 is adapted to engage the edge 14 of the bottom taching portion 11 lying upon the bott' 3A. The member 10 is substantially thesame width as the bottom portion A so that the upright edges of the art 12 coincide with the end edges of t e side walls B and closes the channels formed by these walls and the flanges C, while the bead 13 forms a stop for permitting the proper engagement and positioning of the member '10 relatively tothe plate A when assembling the tray. The member 10 may be conveniently secured to the plate A as'by spot welding or in any other desired manner;

Means are provided for reinforcing or stiffening the end wall 12, and for this purpose a reinforcing member 15 is'used, which is formed with an upper, forwardly ex tending flange 16, a lower, rearwardly extending flange 17 and a connecting portion 18. The flange- 16 is preferably provided with an upstanding rib or web 19adapted to engage the rear face of the front wall 12 "adjacent its upper edge, which edgeis preferably formed with a turned-over bead or hook part 20 under which the rib 19 extends. The lower flange 17 of the reinforcing member 15 is adapted to rest on and be secured, as by welding, to the-top face of the attaching portion 11 of the end member 10. The part 18 of the reinforcing mem:

ber 15 is thus spaced from the end wall 12 and the manner described of securing the reinforcing member directly to the end member 10 by means of the flange 17 and rib 19 forms a rigid, stiff, 'boxalike structure prevents any buckling of the front wall 12.

Index trays of this sort are often provided with index or designating labels or slips for identifying the contents of the tray, and the end wall 12 may be provided with oneor more apertures 22 so that the labels 23 may be inserted in the tray behind the end wall opposite the apertures22. Means are provided, in the present invention, for engaging the backs of the slips 23 with the at so as to properly support them close to the apertures 22 while nevertheless allowing ample space for their insertion or removal with the minimum of contacting surfaces,

so that sticking of'the labels in the tray'is Prevented, For this purpose, each of the apertures 22 is-surrounded by a rearwardly extending flange or edge portion 24 and the reinforcing member 15 is formed with tion and removal ofthe labels fromeither side of the tray.

When cards or card-holders of the sort shown inthe drawings are used, a follower member is'preferably employed which may be of any suitable form adapted to engage ers, as for instance, beneath the flap or lug F of the last "card-holder E, so as to compress the nested cards and hold them against unintentional displacement, in,the desired overlapping arrangement. A suitablefollower for this purpose is shown, which comprises a card-engaging plate or portion G and a stem'or handle portion H having a part preferably adapted to engage a fixed part on the tray to maintain the follower in position. The stem portion H preferably extends to the end of the tray, for example through an aperture 30 in the end wall and the stem is provided with a shoulder h a part on one or more of the cards or holdadapted to engage an edge of the end wall adjacent the aperture. The stem H, as shown in Fig. 8, is releasably held in engagement with the end wall 12 of the tray, as by a flat spring h secured to the stem and which is adapted to hold the shoulder h ainst the upper edge' of the aperture 30-.

a Tie wall 18 of the reinforcing member 15 is also apertured asat 31 for the passage of the stem H. The stem may be withdrawn through the apertures to free the plate G from the card-holders, by depressing the a portion thereof, as for instancelthe stem.

H and a part of the plate G, for the purpose' of holding the outer or adjacent cards or card-holders out of contact therewith and also preferably to keep them aimed, with their free edges in the same horizontal plane,

as shown in Fig. 8. For this purpose an apron or shield is shown, which, in addi.

tion, is provided with means cooperating with the reinforcing member 15 to form a brace member to assist in forming a rigid and strong tray construction. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the apron or brace member is in the form of a plate 36, which preferably extends from side to side of the tray between the flanges C and below the top of the side walls. The outer end of the apron 35 is preferably formed with an offset shoulder 37 adapted to rest on the flange 16 of the reinforcing member and a tongue or rib 38 fitting against the rib 19 and under the hook 20 of theend wall, which firmly engages and secures the ribs 19' and 38 and the top edge of the end Wall to form a rigid bead across the end of the tray. vThe side edges of the apron 35 are preferably bent downwardly to form opposite side flanges 39 which are adapted to lie flush against the flanges C of the tray and the free edges of which engage 'the'bottom wall A thereof. This construction provides a desirable means for resisting side twists and strains to which-the various parts of the tray front may be subjected in use and assists in keeping them at all times in proper allinement. A portion of each flange 39 of the apron is cut to form tabs or lugs 40, preferably near the rear'edge of the apron, which tabs are adapted to be bent to engage under the adjacent edge of the flange C 'of the tray, see Fig. 5, while the opposite ends of the shouldered portion 37 are provided with similar tabs 41 adapted to pass through apertures 42 in the top face I) of the walls B of the tray near their ends. These two sets of tabs 40, 41, form convenient secur ing means for holding the apron in place and the connection ofthe tabs with the flanges C provides stiffening means, at a point distant from the front wall to bnace the end wall structure as a whole.

When the tray is to be used in a cabinet or the like, a handle or part is usually provided to permit the ready movement of the tray into and outof the cabinet, and the present invention includesimproved means for securing such,handleson the trays. The handle shown comprises-a pull portion 45 and an integral, rearwardly extending attaching piece 46. The attaching plate 11 of the end member 10 is cut away to receive the piece 46, so that when inserted, the piece 46 will engage on the bottom plate A of the tray and its top surface will lie flush with the top surface of the attaching plate 11. The handle is preferably provided with a head 47 similar to the head 13 of the front member, which is adapted to engage the front edge of the bottom plate A. This arrangement permits the flange 17 of the reinforcing member to engage the upper faces of both the attaching pieces 11 and 46 and the flange 17 may be suitably spot welded thereto, while the attaching pieces '11 and 46 main turn-spot welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate A. This direct attachment of the handle portion to'the bottom of the tray results in the stresses incident to a pull upon the handle of the tray being distributed throughout the bottom of the tray. If desired the hook 20, ribs '19 and 38 and tabs 40, 41 may also be welded to the ,adjacent portions of the tray.

The construction described is very strong and stiff, and presents a smooth outer surface on the bottom, and sides of the tray, without any projecting parts to rub or catch on the cabinet or against other trays.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a card index tray for supporting a pluralit of cards in overlapping relation,

the com lnation with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means on tray and guiding them in sliding movements on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend across and form an end wall on said tray, and having an attaching portion for securingsaid end member to said tray part, and a reinforcing member connected to said:

end member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member.

3. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means'on said part for retaining said cards on said tray and guiding them in sliding movements on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend across and form an end wall on said tray and having an attaching portion for securlng said end member to said tray part, a bead on said end member adapted to engage one of said tray parts to ahne said end member in operative position on said tray, and a reinforcing member connected to said end member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member. j i.

4. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a art for supporting said cards, retaining an guiding means on said part forretainingsaid cards on said tray and guiding them in sliding movements on said tray, of an endmember adapted to extend across and form an end wall on said-tray and having anatta ching portion for securing said'end member tos'aid tray part, a bead on said end member-adapted to engage said tray part to aline said end member in operative position on said tray, and a bent-over part, on said end member, a reinforcing member having a part adapted to engage under said bent-over part on said end member to connect said members together, and said reinforcing member having a part spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member.

5. In a card index tray for supportinga plurality of cards in overlapping relation,

' the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means on said part for retainmg sald cards on said tray and guiding them in sliding movements.

having an offset portion adapted to engage under said bent-over part on said end member, and an attaching portion overlapping and secured to said attaching portion of said end member.

6. In a card index tray for supporting a pluralit of cards in overlapping relation, the com ination of a bottom part, side parts integral therewith for retaining and guiding said cards on said tray, an end member comprising an end wall part, and an integral attaching, part adapted to be secured to said tray bottom part, a reinforcing member having a wall part spaced from said end wall part, and parts integral therewith for se'-- curing said spaced wall part to said end wall part and to said integral attaching part of said end member for reinforcing said end member. v

7. In a card index tray for supporting a pluralit of cards in overlapping relation, the com ination of a bottom part, side parts integral therewith for retaining and guiding said cards on said tray, an end member comprising an end wall part, an integral attaching part adapted to be secured to said tray bottom part, and a bead thereon adapted to engage an edge on said tray bottom part to aline said front member inrelative position to said tray parts, and a reinforcing member having a wall part spaced from said end wall part, and parts integraltherewith for securing said spaced wall part to said end wall part and to said integral attaching part of said .end member for reinforcing said end member. i

8. In a container for record matter, the combination with parts for -supporting said record matter in said container, of an end member including an end wall part adapted to extend across anend of said container and an attaching part for securlng said end member to sald container, a reinforcing member including a wall part spaced from said end wall part and having means for;

securing it to said part, and means on said container for supporting and exhibiting an index label 'or the like including an aperture in said end wall, and a 'part on said reinforcing member for supporting 'said label adjacent said aperture so thatsaid label may be maintained in operative relation to said aperture and beviewed therethrough.

9. Ina container for record matter, the

combination with parts for supporting said record matter in said container, of an en member including an end wall part adapted to extend across an end of said container and anattaching part for securing said end member to said container, a reinforcing member including a wall part spaced from said end wall part and having means for securing it to said part, and means on said container for supporting and exhibiting an index label or the like including an aperture in said end wall, an inwardly extending.

edge portion surrounding said aperture, a. forwardly extending part on said reinforcing member for supporting said label against said edge portion so that the label may be maintained in operative relation to' said aperture and beviewed there-through.

combination with parts for supporting said record matter in said container, of an end,

member including an end wall part adapted to extend-across an end of said container, and an attaching part for securing said end 'member to said container, a reinforcing member including a wall part spaced from said end wall part and having means for securing it to said part, means on said container for supporting and exhibiting an index label or the like including an aperture in said end wall, parts extending towards each other from said end wall member and said reinforcing member respectively to engage opposite faces of said label to maintain said label in operative relationto said aperture so that it may be viewed therethrough. 1 V

11. In a container for record matter, the combination with parts for supporting said record matter in said container,of an end member including an end wall part adapt ed to extend across an end of said container 10. In a container for record matter, the

and an attaching part forsecuring said end end member and member to said container, a reinforcing member including a wall part spaced from said end wall part and having means for securing it to said part, and meanson said container for sup-porting and e hibiting an index label or the like includi g an aperture in said end wall, an inwardly extending edge portion surrounding said aperture, a forwardly extending transverse bead on said reinforcing member for supporting said label against said edge portion so that the label may be maintained in operative relation to said aperture and be viewed therethrough.

12. In a container for record'matter, the combination with parts for supporting said record matter in said container, of an end member including an end wall part adapted to extend across an end of said container and an attaching part for securing said end member to said container, a reinforcing member including a wall part spaced from said end wall part and having means for securing it to said part, and a brace member extending across said container and having a part secured to said end member and a part secured to a part on said container at a distance from said end member, said bracing member being adapted to stiffen the arts of said container. 13. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means on said part for retaining said cards on said tray and guidin them in sliding movements a and having a part connected to said end on saidtray, 0 an end memberadapted to extend across and form an end wall on said tray, a v reinforcing member connected to said end member and'having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member, and a brace member extending across said tray and having a part secured to said end wall memberand parts secured to the card-retaining and guiding parts on 'said tray at a distance from said endmember, said brace member being adapted to stiffen the end member and parts of said tray.

'14. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means at opposite sides of said tray for retaining and guiding said cards on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend across and form an end wallon said tray, a reinforcing member connected to said end. member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member, and a brace member extending across said tray member, and parts at opposite sides of said brace member connected to parts at oppoopposite sides of said tray for retaining and guiding said cards on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend across and form an end wall on said tray, a reinforcing member connected to said end member and having meansv spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member, and a brace member extending across said tray and having a part connected to said end member" and to said reinforcing member and having parts at opposite sides thereof connected to parts at opposite sides of said tray at a distance from said end member, said brace member being adapted to stiffen the end member and parts of said tray.

16. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means comprising flanges at the sides of said tray for retaining said cards on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend across and form an end wall on said tray, a reinforcing member connected to said end member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member, and a brace member extending across said tray and having a part connected to said end member and parts engaging said tray flanges at a distance from said end member, said brace member being adapted to stiffen the end member and parts of said tray.

17. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a part for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding means comprising flanges at opposite sides of said tray for retaining and guiding said cards on said c'ard supporting means, of an end memberadapted to extend across and form an end Wall on said tray, a reinforcing member connected to said end member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said end member, and a brace member having a part extending from side to side of said tray, a part connected to said end member and parts extending from said first part at an angle thereto and contacting along a portion,of said tray flanges, and parts on said brace member secured to said tray flanges at a distance from said end member, said brace member being adapted. to stiffen the-end member and parts of said tray.

18. In a card index tray for supportinga plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination with a bottom'plate for supporting said cards, retaining and guiding site sides of said tray at a distance from a means comprising flanges on said bottom plate for retaining said cards on said tray and guiding them in sliding movements on said tray, of an end member adapted to extend. across and'form an end wall on said I'tray, a reinforcing member connected to.

connected to said end member and parts extending from said first p'art at an angle thereto and contacting along a portion of said, tray flanges and engaging said tray bottom plate, and parts on said brace mem ber secured to said trayflanges at a distance from said end member, said brace member being adapted to stiffen the end member and parts of said tray.

19. In a container for record matter, the combination with parts for supporting sald yrecord'matter on said container, a follower for-engaging one of said cards for maintaining them in overlapping relation and disposed adjacent an end of said container, of an end member ad'apted to extend across and form an end wall on said container, a reinforcing member connected to said end member and having means spaced from and adapted to reinforce said endmember, and a' brace member having a part extending across/said container adapted to conceal parts of said follower, and having a part connected to said end member and parts connected to parts of said container ata dlstance from said end member, said brace member being ad'apted to stiffen the end member and parts of said container.

20. In a container for record matter, the combination with parts for supporting said record matter on said container, of an end member including an end wall p'art adapted to extend across an end of said container, and an attaching part for securing said end member to said container, a reinforcing member including a wall p'art spaced from said end wall part and having means for;

1 securing it to said part, and a handle having a pull portion extending outside of said container and having a part extending 1nto said end member and secured to said end member and to said reinforcing member to retain said handle on said container. v

21. In a container for'record matter, the

combination with parts for supporting said record m'atter on said container, of an end member including an end wall part adapted to extend across an end of said container, and an attachin' part for securing said end member to said member including a wall part spaced from said end wall art and having means for securing it to sad part, and a handle having a ull portion extending outside of said contamer and having a part extending into said container, a reinforcing end member and. secured to said end member and to one of said container parts and said reinforcing member having a part overlapping and secured to said handle part and to a part on'said end member.

22. In a container for record matter, the combination of a record-supporting part, an end wall having an attaching portion connected to a portion of a. surface of said record-supporting part and a hand pull at the exterior of said end wall and having a part extending inwardly beyond said end wall and directly connected to said surface of "said record-supporting part.

23. In a container for record matter, the combination of a record-supporting part, an end wall having an attaching portion connected to a portion of a-surface of said record-supportingpart, a hand pull at the exterior of said end wall and having a part extending inwardly beyond said end wall and directly connected to said surface of said record-supporting part, and a reinforc ing member havinga part engaging an upper portion of said end wall'and a part spaced therefrom and connecting said end wall attaching portion and said inwardly extending hand pull part.

24. In a container for record matter, the

combination of a record-supporting part and side, portions, an end wall having an attaching portion secured to a portion of a .surface of said record-supporting part, and

a brace member extending across said container and having a part secured to said end wall and parts secured to the side ortions of said container at a distance rom said end wall.

25. In 'a container for record matter, the combination of a record-supporting part and side portions, an end wall having an attaching portion secured to a ortion of'a, surface of said record-supporting part, a reinforcing member having a part forming a Wall spaced from said end wall and parts thereon connecting said spaced wall part to said end wall and to said end wall attaching portion, and a brace member extending across said container and having a part secured to said end wall andparts secured to the side portions of said container at a distance from said end wall. 1

' 26. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination of a bottom art, side guiding said cards on said tray, an end member comprisin an end wall part and an integral attaching part adapted to be secured to said tray bottom part, and a brace member extending across. said tray and having a part secured to said end wall and apart secured to the tray at adistance from said end member to stiffen said end member and parts of said tray, and said brace member being adapted to engage one of said overlapping cards adjacent the end of the tray to support the free end of said card and of the cards adjacent thereto in alinement with the remaining cards of the series. t

27. In a card index tray for supporting a plurality of cards in overlapping relation, the combination of a bottom part, side parts integral therewith for retaining and guiding said cards on said tray, an end member comprising an end wall part and an integral. attaching part adapted to be secured to said tray bottom part, and a brace member extending across said tray and having a part secured to said end wall and a part secured to the tray at a distance from said end member, to stiffen said end member and parts of said tray, and said brace member being inclined to engage the under surface of the end one-of said overlapping cai'ds to support the free end of said card and of the cards adjacent thereto in alinement with the remaining cards of the series.

28. In a container 'for record matter, the combination of a record-supporting part, a follower "member for maintaining said record matter in operative position in said container, an end wall having an attaching portion secured to a portion of a surface of said record-supporting part, and a brace member adapted to conceal a portion of said follower extending across said container and having a part secured to said end wall and parts secured to the side portions of said container at a distance from said end wall.

JAMES H. RAND, JR. LOUIS G. BROECKER. 

